Sunburn and Sun Poisoning (cont.)

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

Do sunscreens expire?

Sunscreens may degrade over time or after long exposure to sun and heat.
The bottle should not be kept in the car or under direct sun exposure
for a long period of time. If the expiration date has passed, the product should be
discarded. Sunscreens generally expire or lose
their effectiveness after about three years.

Can antioxidants protect against sunburn?

Antioxidants are agents that can prevent certain harmful reactions in the
body. The formation of some potentially harmful molecules, called free radicals,
is one of these reactions. Antioxidants are natural agents that may prevent or
reduce this formation.

Some of sun damage is a result of this reaction. Oral or topical antioxidants
(vitamins A,
C, and
E, and green tea) may theoretically protect the skin against
sunburn. Clinical data is not sufficient to support their use instead of or in
addition to, traditional sunscreen.